Standing around most of Tuesday night instead of going hard after their goals, the Lakers backed up all their preseason preaching that it'll take time for them to become the super team everyone expects with Dwight Howard and Steve Nash joining Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

The more energetic Dallas Mavericks took it to the Lakers on Opening Night 2012 at Staples Center, scoring a 99-91 victory behind Darren Collison's 17 points. Collison's point-guard counterpart, Nash, looked tentative in the new equal-opportunity offense, and Howard shot a demoralizing 3 for 14 on free throws.

"We're thinking too much instead of just playing," Nash said.

Most critically for a crew that Lakers coach Mike Brown believed would sustain itself early in the season with tenacious defense, the Mavericks shot 63.2 percent from the field in the third quarter despite missing Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman to injuries.

"We're going to have to defend with multiple efforts until our offense catches up to our defense," Brown said.

It was a depressing first step back for Lakers fans who expect to see pretty Nash plays and Howard single-handedly owning the paint. Brown's Lakers grew increasingly confused on offense, which carried over to being hesitant on defense.

Playing through a sore right foot, Bryant shot 11 for 14 from the field but had no assists - returning to the court for his final fourth-quarter run by pleading with Howard and Gasol to provide "more motion" on offense. Nash had minimal impact with the ball frequently out of his hands, finishing with seven points and three assists in a Derek Fisher-like outing.

Howard missed his first shot on a dunk when he found himself farther from the hoop than expected and was frustrated with the officiating as the night wore on. He was charged with a flagrant foul on defense right after one no-call on offense - and he fouled out with 19 points, 10 rebounds and one block.

The Lakers shot 12 of 31 on free throws - Jordan Hill was 1 for 6 - as Howard's misfiring drained the team's energy the way Shaquille O'Neal's sometimes did in a previous Staples era. Gasol called the Lakers' free-throw shooting for the night "incredible" - and not in a good way. Lakers assistant coach Chuck Person has been in charge of Howard's free-throw shooting all preseason, and there's obviously much work still to be done.

Howard said he's stressing too much before shooting from the foul line, with the message "I've gotta make it, I've gotta make it," running through his head.

All the thinking, Howard said, is a result of the Lakers wanting so badly to do well as soon as possible.

"Don't expect for us to be perfect up top," Howard said. "We want to be perfect come June."

The Lakers' Dwight Howard fouls the Mavericks' Eddy Curry during the first half Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant makes an acrobatic shot during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Steve Nash looks for a foul on the Mavericks' Vince Carter. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Dwight Howard is fouled by the Mavericks' Dahntay Jones, left, as Jae Crowder helps defend during the first half of the Lakers' home opener at Staples Center on Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Steve Nash defends a shot by the Mavericks' Rodrigue Beaubois during the first half Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Pau Gasol talks with Dwight Howard during a timeout Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
New center Dwight Howard listens to the National Anthem before his first game as a Laker at Staples Center on Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
New center Dwight Howard gestures to the sky after listening to the National Anthem before his first game as a Laker at Staples Center on Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Steve Nash tries to keep up with the Mavericks' Darren Collison during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant is fouled by the Mavericks' O.J. Mayo during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Steve Nash drives to the hoop during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Dwight Howard walks to the bench after fouling out during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Former Laker Magic Johnson jokes around with long-time athletic trainer, Gary Vitti before the Lakers' 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Dwight Howard watches a free throw during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Jordan Hill dunks over the Mavericks' Darren Collison during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Pau Gasol gets bumped in the face as the Mavericks' Elton Brand drives to the basket during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Antawn Jamison scores as he's fouled by the Mavericks' Shawn Marion during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban watches the Lakers' 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Steve Nash talks with head coach Mike Brown during the first half of the Lakers' home-opener against the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Dwight Howard reacts after fouling out of the game during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Former Laker Magic Johnson jokes around with long-time athletic trainer, Gary Vitti before the Lakers' 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Pau Gasol blocks a shot by the Mavericks' O.J. Mayo during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home-opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Dwight Howard is fouled by the Mavericks' Elton Brand during the Lakers 99-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their home opener at Staples Center Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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